January 27 – In an unusual move by FIFA, the lifetime ban on former South Korean international Son Jun-ho imposed in China last year on charges of match-fixing has not been extended to the rest of the world, allowing the player to pursue his career.
Traditionally, FIFA turns domestic bans for this kind of misdemenour into global ones but not this time, clearly not convinced that the punishment meted out by Chinese authorities merited more widespread action.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it had been informed by FIFA that the Chinese Football Association’s request for the punishment be universally applied had been rejected.
Son Jun-ho, who came on as a substitute in three games at the 2022 World Cup, has always denied the charges.
“With this, the ban on Son is only applicable in China,” the KFA said in a statement. “The path is now open for Son to sign with a team in South Korea’s K League or anywhere in the world other than China.”
Son was accused of match-fixing while playing for four-time Chinese champion Shandong Taishan in May 2023. He was held for 10 months before being released.
“The only evidence they have is my false confession made under coercion,” he told a press conference back in September. “I was threatened that if I didn’t accept the charges, my wife would be arrested and investigated, too.”
Son did admit, however, that he had received 200,000 yuan ($27,610) from a close friend in China though insisted it was not connected to match-fixing.
Son joined South Korean top-tier club Suwon FC in June 2024 but his contract was terminated three months later when the CFA issued its ban. He is currently without a club, with the 2025 K-League season starting in February.
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